Cosmetic Tool Maintaining And Cleaning Apparatus, System And Methods For Using Such

ABSTRACT

The invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for maintaining and cleaning cosmetic tools, such as brushes and blenders. The invention comprises a brush in the form of a decorative artificial plant that has leaves and/or other protrusions, a plant base, a decorative planter to hold the decorative artificial plant and plant base, and a planter base for the bottom of the decorative planter. Optionally, the apparatus may include a cleaning solution stored inside the decorative planter, as well as other options.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to cosmetic tool (e.g., brushes, beauty blenders)maintaining and cleaning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of cosmetic tools, such as brushes and blenders, that are notcleaned properly, can lead to conjunctivitis (pink eye/styes), cloggedpores, acne and breakouts, over-defined fine skin lines/wrinkles, riskof staph infections, irritated skin and rosacea flare ups, non-smoothmakeup application and/or other problems. Better apparatus and methodsfor maintaining and cleaning cosmetic tools (e.g., brushes and blenders)are needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of this invention can form a system that comprisesseveral components. Certain preferred components comprise a brush in theform of a decorative artificial plant that has leaves and/or otherprotrusions, a plant base for the decorative artificial plant that insome embodiments has a cleaning surface, a decorative planter for thedecorative artificial plant and plant base, a planter base for thedecorative planter, and, optionally other components, such as a cleaningsolution stored inside the decorative planter. These systems and thecomponents can be used in methods to clean cosmetic tools, includingcosmetic brushes and cosmetic blenders.

The advantages of this invention include the use of embodiments of thisinvention to maintain and clean cosmetic tools, including brushes andblenders, and to help to avoid the problems caused by using cosmetictools that are not maintained and/or cleaned properly. In certainpreferred embodiments, this invention also disinfects the cosmetictools. In certain preferred embodiments, this invention cleans thecosmetic tools and prevents build-up of dirt, debris, and cosmetics onthe cosmetic tools.

In addition, the system and components of this invention, when usedtogether, are capable of forming a decorative display that is alsofunctional, without being unpleasant to the eye. This invention can alsoform a neat and compact set of components that can be stored in aconvenient location to make the maintaining and cleaning of cosmetictools more healthy, hygienic, efficient, handy, and pleasant looking.Other advantages of this invention will be apparent to a person skilledin the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schmatic of a top/side view of a decorative artificial plantbrush embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the underside of a plant base for a decorativeartificial plant brush embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a front view of a decorative planter andplanter base of embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of a front view of one embodiment of thisinvention showing a decorative artificial plant brush, a plant base, adecorative planter, and a planter base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for maintainingand cleaning cosmetic tools, such as brushes and blenders. The inventioncomprises a brush in the form of a decorative artificial plant that hasleaves and/or other protrusions, a plant base, a decorative planter tohold the decorative artificial plant and plant base, and a planter basefor the bottom of the decorative planter. Optionally, the apparatus mayinclude a cleaning solution stored inside the decorative planter, aswell as other options, some of which are described herein and some ofwhich will be known or apparent to a person skilled in the art.

In the most preferred embodiments, the brush is in the form of adecorative artificial plant. The decorative artificial plant brush ispreferably made of silicone, material containing silicone, or some othermaterial that can be used to rub cosmetic brushes against to clean them.Certain of these embodiments may include a brush that looks like a realplant, such as a real succulent plant, with realistic green shading forthe leaves. Such a plant may look appropriate or customary to be foundin a household, including in a bathroom (e.g., on a bathroom vanity,sink or shelf).

In certain of these embodiments, a cosmetic tool that needs to becleaned and/or otherwise maintained is rubbed against the leaves of thedecorative artificial plant brush to clean the tool. In certainembodiments, the leaves of the decorative artificial plant brush mayreach deep into larger cosmetic brushes to maintain and/or clean them.Some or all of the portions of the surface of the leaves of thedecorative artificial plant brush may be smooth or rough or a mixture ofsmooth and rough. The decorative artificial plant brush can be wet withcleaning solution before and/or after use and/or rinsed under cleanwater.

In certain of these embodiments, the decorative artificial plant brushis attached, or otherwise part of, a plant base. The attachment can beby any fasteners known by a person of skill in the art and/or they canbe fitted permanently together or made of one piece. In certain of theseembodiments, the plant base is also made of silicone and/or some othermaterial that can be used to clean cosmetic brushes, and in someembodiments is a sponge and/or other cleaning surface. In someembodiments, the plant base may have protrusions to facilitate cleaning.In other embodiments, the plant base may be used as a diffuser and holda diffuser pad. In other embodiments the plant base may hold a loofasponge, a shave brush, or some other bathroom tool or personal hygieneitem.

In certain of these embodiments, the decorative artificial plant brushis used to clean larger cosmetic brushes while a plant base spongesurface is used to clean smaller cosmetic brushes. In these embodiments,the decorative artificial plant and the plant base are attached to oneanother, and they may be removed from the decorative planter to use themto maintain and/or clean cosmetic tools and/or to clean (e.g., rinse)the decorative artificial plant brush and the plant base. In certainpreferred embodiments, the plant base is made to look like gravel, moss,dirt, or some other material on its top that enhances and otherwisecomplements the look of the decorative artificial plant brush.

In the most preferred embodiments, the decorative planter is in the formof a shape that looks like a planter for a live plant. The decorativeplanter may be round, or circular (like a pot), or have geometricangles, shapes, or ornamentations, or be some other shape or have someother look. In certain of these embodiments, the planter is about 3inches high and about 3.5 inches wide. Other dimensions can be used. Incertain embodiments, the decorative planter is made of clay, silicone,ceramic, porcelain, glass, plastic, wood, or any other material ormixture of materials, and preferably a material that is commonly usedfor planters or that looks like the material used for planters.

In certain embodiments the decorative planter has holes in its bottomthat will allow for the drainage of any liquid in it. Thus, if thedecorative artificial plant brush is used to clean a cosmetic brush, andthe decorative artificial plant brush is then cleaned and rinsed, it canbe put back into the decorative planter to dry, with any water fallinginto the decorative planter and then leaving the decorative planterthrough the holes in its bottom.

In many embodiments, the decorative planter is used to store things. Inthe most preferred embodiments, the decorative planter contains amaterial selected from the group consisting of a cleaning solution forcosmetic brushes and blenders, essential oils for a diffuser, anexfoliant, or a shaving bar.

In certain embodiments, the decorative planter can be attached to aplanter base by being threaded or otherwise twisting onto a receptiveend in the planter base (e.g., like ajar and a jar lid). In otherembodiments, the decorative planter is not attached to the planter base,but it sits on the planter base. In still other embodiments, thedecorative planter is attached to the planter base by some connector orfastener other than by threads or twisting (e.g., hook and loopfasteners) that is known to a person of skill in the art. In certainembodiments, the planter base may hold soap (e.g., a cleaning solution),or other items, and in certain of these embodiments, the planter basemay have drainage holes to allow for dirty water to be rinsed away.

In the most preferred embodiments, the cleaning solution stored insidethe decorative planter is a soap, such as a refillable soap. In certainof these embodiments, the soap is comprised of organic oils and veganglycerin. In these embodiments, the ingredients can be cruelty free,made in the US, vegan and organic, as an example. In the most preferredembodiments, the cleaning solution also disinfects the cosmetic toolsand/or the decorative artificial plant brush and plant base when theyare used.

The subject matter of this disclosure is now described with reference tothe following examples. These examples are provided for the purpose ofillustration only, and the subject matter is not limited to theseexamples, but rather encompasses all variations which are evident as aresult of the teaching provided herein.

Example 1

A particular example of the embodiments of this Example 1 is shown inFIGS. 1-4 . A brush in the form of a decorative artificial plant brush 1(FIG. 1 , FIG. 4 ) that has leaves 10 is used. The decorative artificialplant brush 1 has a plant base 20, the underside of which is illustratedin FIG. 2 . The plant base 20 has protrusions that aid in the gentlecleaning of cosmetic brushes, especially smaller brushes. The top sideof the plant base 20 is shown in FIG. 4 and it is made to look likegravel to complement the look of the decorative artificial plant brush.

In these embodiments, a decorative planter 30 (FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 ) is usedto hold the decorative artificial plant brush and plant base. Thedecorative planter 30 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 has geometric shapes.

A planter base 40 (FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 ) is used for the bottom of thedecorative planter 30. A cleaning solution (not shown in the figures) isstored inside the decorative planter 30 in certain embodiments, in aseparate container or in the planter base 40 itself. Other items can bestored in the decorative planter 30 and/or the planter base 40, inaddition to, or in substitution for, the cleaning solution.

The cleaning solution of this example is a soap made of organic oils andvegan glycerin.

A user can remove the decorative artificial plant brush 10 and use it toclean, in some embodiments, larger cosmetic brushes and blenders. Acleaning solution shored in the decorative planter 30 (or elsewhere) canbe used in the process. The user can also use the plant base 20, in someembodiments, to clean smaller cosmetic brushes. When finished, the usercan rinse the decorative artificial plant brush 10 and plant base 20 andplace it back in the decorative planter 30 to dry.

Thus, embodiments of this example will comprise a system for themaintaining and cleaning of cosmetic brushes and blenders, with severalcomponents. These components will comprise (a) a decorative artificialplant brush that has leaves and/or other protrusions; (b) a plant baseattached to the decorative artificial plant brush; (c) a decorativeplanter that is sized to hold the decorative artificial plant brush andthe plant base in an upright position; and (d) a planter base that isattached to the decorative planter. In certain of these embodiments, thedecorative artificial plant brush can be used to clean cosmetic brushesand cosmetic blenders by rubbing the cosmetic brushes and cosmeticblenders against the leaves and/or protrusions of the decorativeartificial plant brush. In addition, the decorative artificial plantbrush, plant base, decorative planter, and planter base, when combined,have the appearance of a potted plant.

In the most preferred embodiments of this example, the decorativeartificial plant brush is made of silicone (or another rubber likematerial) and it resembles a succulent plant. In certain of theseembodiments, the plant base is a cosmetic brush and blender cleaner madeof silicone.

The embodiments of this example can be used in methods for maintainingand cleaning one or more cosmetic brushes and blenders. The methodcomprises (a) removing a decorative artificial plant and plant base offof a decorative planter; (b) wetting the leaves of the decorativeartificial plant and the plant base with cleaning solution that wasstored in the decorative planter; (c) rubbing one or more of thecosmetic brushes and blenders against the leaves of the decorativeartificial plant that has been made wet with the cleaning solution; (d)rubbing one or more of the cosmetic brushes and blenders against theplant base of the decorative artificial plant that has been made wetwith the cleaning solution; (e) rinsing off the decorative artificialplant and plant base; and (f) returning the decorative artificial plantand plant base back to the decorative planter. Other methods can be usedwith the systems and apparatus of this example (and other embodiments ofthis invention), as will be clear to a person of skill in the art.

Example 2

In the embodiments of this example, the invention also comprises adiffuser pad and the decorative planter may be used to store essentialoils. In certain of these embodiments, the diffuser pad (or pads) can bekept in the decorative planter. In other embodiments, the diffuser padis used as (or as part of) the plant base.

In the embodiments of this example, the essential oils are used with thediffuser pad to provide pleasant and/or helpful oils to the immediateenvironment (e.g., bathroom). In certain of these embodiments, thedecorative planter contains holes in it to help defuse the essentialoils into the immediate environment.

Example 3

In the embodiments of this example, the invention also comprises a loofasponge and the decorative planter may be used to store an exfoliant. Incertain of these embodiments, the loofa sponge (or sponges) can be keptin the decorative planter. In other embodiments, the loofa sponge isused as (or as part of) the plant base.

In the embodiments of this example, the exfoliant is used with the loofasponge to clean and/or exfoliate the skin of the user.

Example 4

In the embodiments of this example, the invention also comprises a shavebrush and the decorative planter is used to store a shaving cream orbar. In certain of these embodiments, the shave brush can be kept in thedecorative planter. In other embodiments, the shave brush is used as (oras part of) the plant base.

In the embodiments of this example, the shaving cream or bar is usedwith the shave brush to apply the shaving cream or bar to the user.

Example 5

In this embodiment, the decorative planter is used to contain a cleaningsolution and/or soap and the invention further comprises a pump-likedispenser for the cleaning solution and/or soap. This dispenser may beattached to, and emerge from, the side of the decorative planter, theplant base, or the decorative artificial plant, or be attached to, oremerge from some other component of or addition to this invention.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Although the present invention has been described with reference toteaching, examples and preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art caneasily ascertain its essential characteristics, and without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof can make various changes andmodifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalentsto the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Suchequivalents are encompassed by the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for the maintaining and cleaning ofcosmetic brushes, the system comprising: (a) a decorative artificialplant brush that has leaves and/or other protrusions; (b) a plant baseattached to the decorative artificial plant brush; (c) a decorativeplanter that is sized to hold the decorative artificial plant brush andthe plant base in an upright position; (d) a planter base that isattached to the decorative planter; (e) wherein the decorativeartificial plant brush can be used to clean cosmetic brushes by rubbingthe cosmetic brushes against the leaves and/or protrusions of thedecorative artificial plant brush; and (0 wherein the decorativeartificial plant brush, plant base, decorative planter, and planterbase, when combined, have the appearance of a potted plant.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the decorative artificial plant brush is madeof silicone and it resembles a succulent plant.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the plant base is a cosmetic brush cleaner made of silicone.4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plant base is a diffuser and itholds a diffuser pad.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plant baseholds a loofa sponge.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plant baseholds a shave brush.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the decorativeplanter contains a material selected from the group consisting of acleaning solution for cosmetic brushes, essential oils for a diffuser,an exfoliant, or a shaving bar.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein thedecorative planter has drainage holes for draining any liquid from thedecorative planter.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising apump-like dispenser for cleaning solution.
 10. A brush for maintainingand cleaning cosmetic brushes, the brush comprising a decorativeartificial plant that resembles a live succulent, the decorativeartificial plant comprising leaves that that are capable of being usedto clean cosmetic brushes by rubbing the cosmetic brushes against theleaves, and the brush being made of silicone.
 11. A method ofmaintaining and cleaning one or more cosmetic brushes, the methodcomprising: (a) removing a decorative artificial plant and plant baseoff of a decorative planter; (b) wetting the leaves of the decorativeartificial plant and the plant base with cleaning solution that wasstored in the decorative planter; (c) rubbing one or more of thecosmetic brushes against the leaves of the decorative artificial plantthat has been made wet with the cleaning solution; (d) rubbing one ormore of the cosmetic brushes against the plant base of the decorativeartificial plant that has been made wet with the cleaning solution; (e)rinsing the cleaning solution off the decorative artificial plant andplant base; and (f) returning the decorative artificial plant and plantbase back to the decorative planter to dry.